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IRS ‘Nudging’ Income Tax Preparers Miami Yet to Test

IRS ‘Nudging’ Income Tax Preparers Miami Yet to Test

David Williams, director of the IRS Income Tax Preparers Miami Office, has issued a Facebook “heads up” to Income Tax Preparers Miami who haven’t yet scheduled an RTRP test.

“We will begin a wave of e-mails to all Income Tax Preparers Miami who still have a requirement to pass the [RTRP] test but have not yet done so,” Williams’s message says. “Please, check your inboxes or Spam folders over the next 10 days for my e-mail to you. The purpose of the e-mail is to be a gentle but not-too-subtle nudge: Schedule your RTRP test today. Yes, you still have until Dec. 31, 2013. But there are 330,000 of you, 260 testing centers and 16 months left.”

Williams, who is expected to leave the IRS at the end of August (see IRS’ David Williams to Depart), adds that Income Tax Return Preparers Miami yet to test must:

• Schedule their test through their online PTIN account at www.irs.gov/ptin (log in and select “View Next Steps and Outstanding Requirements”);

• Pass the test and make sure to be current with individual and business tax obligations.

“As soon as you pass the test and a tax check, you will receive your RTRP certificate,” says Williams, also acknowledging what some Income Tax Preparers Miami have called “test anxiety.” “Seek out a professional tax return preparation course if you feel you need to brush up your skills. Through 2013, if you take a course from an IRS-authorized CE provider, you will receive credit toward your 15-hour CE requirement.”

Williams’ post elicited a number of comments on the Facebook page from preparers. Among them:

• Several preparers who have passed the test offered encouragement to preparers who have yet to test.

• Recommendations for test-prep courses

• Questions about PTIN requirements.

• Questions about when the IRS will post online a list of those preparers who have passed.

• Questions about the quality of questions on the exam.

• Whether having to regularly test for such positions as VITA Income Tax Return Preparers in Miami might exempt a Income Tax Preparers Miami from having to take the RTRP test.

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About the Author

Gustavo VieraGustavo A Viera, CPA, is the managing partner in Gustavo A Viera, PA, CPA. His experience spans more than 25 years. His public accounting experience includes a senior audit manager at PriceWaterHouseCoopers with a focus in the healthcare industry, and Chief Financial Officer of Hewlett Packard Latin America and Telefonica of Spain. Gus also writes a blog twice a week that addresses issues his clients have at www.perrinecpa.com/blog. He has also taught in the SBA program in Miami FL, and is admitted to practice in the State of Florida licensed Certified Public Accountant. Gus welcomes questions and he can be reached at Gustavo A Viera, PA, CPA, One Alhambra Plaza Floor PH Coral Gables FL 33134 (786) 250-4450.View all posts by Gustavo Viera →